Chris Slesser

Chair

Chris works at Creative UK, supporting a national network of education providers to champion the vital role of creativity to the UK’s culture and economy and helps kickstart careers in the cultural and creative industries. Previously, Chris worked at Falmouth University and developed student-led initiatives to enhance policy, curriculum, and support services, while leading a team assisting students with challenges relating to their health, wellbeing, and accessibility needs. Originally from Staffordshire and with a background in fine art, Chris is passionate about nurturing creativity from an early age, empowering young people to imagine and shape better futures

Natalie Haslam

Trustee

Natalie is a Producer and Dance Artist based in the West Midlands. She is experienced in inclusive and community-based projects, passionate about developing talent, and is striving to be more sustainable in the work she produces and creates.

Natalie currently works for Ascendance (Dance with Parkinson’s), National Youth Ballet, and co-directs an inclusive community dance company in Staffordshire called ‘That! Dance’.

Previously, Natalie has worked on Critical Mass 2022 (as part of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games), Lichfield Festival, Birmingham International Dance Festival and People Dancing’s Live Well and Dance with Parkinson’s programme, as well as founding Lichfield Screendance Festival and ‘Lichfield Dances’ (for Lichfield Festival).

Alongside her creative work, Natalie is an experienced bid writer, having successfully applied for over £500k for various arts organisations over the past two years.

Hannah Lindsey

Trustee

Hannah trained in Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music & has over a decade of professional theatre experience – her most recent credit being Heidi/Cynthia Cover in Dear Evan Hansen at the Noel Coward Theatre in London’s West End.  

As an actor with 2 years of experience as a youth worker, 6 years teaching drama & as a charity trustee & ambassador since 2020, Hannah was thrilled to join RicNic & bring her passions for the arts, young people & charitable organisations together into one role as maternity cover for RicNic’s Executive Director position in 2022-23. She then joined the board at the end of the contract, becoming co-Chair in June 2024.

“I believe fiercely in young people & their ability to grow, create & inspire through theatrical art. It is so rewarding seeing audiences & young people alike benefit from the work of this important charity.”

Sam Oladeinde

Trustee

Sam’s RicNic journey began in 2006 performing in shows including Oklahoma! Kiss Me Kate, Calamity Jane and My Fair Lady, then producing and choreographing West Side Story. His musical life continued at Cambridge University, as a choral scholar at St John’s College where he studied law. Since graduating, Sam qualified as a lawyer in London, and subsequently pursued his dramatic, musical and artistic hobbies by training at the Royal Academy of Music. He joined the West End company of Hamilton as a swing and principal understudy, before enjoying runs in The Book of Mormon, The Prince of Egypt and as Bob/Others in the West End production of Come From Away. Sam is currently performing as Aaron Burr in the UK touring cast of Hamilton.

Jessica Williams

Trustee

Born and bred in the Black Country, Jess is an Actor/ Theatre-Maker who has recently graduated with an MA in Acting from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She is currently developing her one-woman show PERFORMATIVE TRUTHS, which explores the experiences of individuals applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in the UK. Passionate about creating relevant, issue-based work, Jess is Co-Founder/ Artistic Director at Nereids Theatre Company, an award-winning theatre company producing audio plays and live theatre which re-imagine Shakespeare in accessible ways for young people. Alongside acting and writing, she is an experienced Facilitator, delivering workshops for companies including Rights of Passage Productions and the Pauline Quirke Academy for ages 4-22. As previous Outreach Coordinator for RicNic, Jess is delighted to be returning to the team to continue driving forward Arts engagement in the region!

Caroline Davis

Trustee

I’m Caroline & I own a Musical Theatre themed Music Bar in Lichfield which is where I first came into contact with RicNic! I’ve worked most of my career in business, holding senior posts at the National Memorial Arboretum, The Black Country Living Museum, large law firms and pharmaceutical companies as well as running my own training consultancy and now hospitality!. My heart is in the theatre though and I am determined to give young people the chance to find their passions through the performing arts. My children are both musical – my son has recently started at Durham University studying music and I am grateful that they have a love of performance having a place in their lives.  I’m delighted to be joining as a trustee of RicNic

Autumn Beddoe

Trustee

Autumn is a producer and creative facilitator, based in Worcestershire, currently working as Head of Engagement and Creative Learning at Malvern Theatres. Her introduction to RicNic Burton, back in 2020, set her on a path to continuously strive to create and deliver excellent arts opportunities for young people throughout her work.